Where does “abbess” come from?
Abbess comes from Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse, from Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, from Latin abbas, from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς, from Aramaic אבא meaning father.
abbess (English): A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or...
Definitions
- A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or...
Ancestry of “abbess”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | abbesse | abbess female abbot |
| 2 | Old French | abeesse | abbess |
| 3 | Latin | abbātissa | abbess, female head of an abbey |
| 4 | Latin | abbās | an abbot |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀββᾶς | Alternative form of ἀββα; father |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀββα | father; title of respect given to abbots |
| 7 | Aramaic | אבא | father, ancestor, progenitor; teacher; chief,... |
| 8 | Proto-Semitic | ʔabw- | father |
| 9 | Proto-Afroasiatic | ʔab- | father |